Thomas Bilotti

Thomas Bilotti (23 March 1940-16 December 1985) was Underboss of the Gambino crime family for two weeks, serving under Don Paul Castellano. He was murdered alongside his boss in 1985.

Biography
Thomas Bilotti was born in Staten Island, New York on 23 March 1940, and he worked as a chauffeur and bodyguard for the Gambino crime family. He was involved in labor racketeering, extortion, and loansharking, and he soon gained a reputation for violence. Over the years, he became a close aide-de-camp, confidant, and chauffeur for capo Paul Castellano, and he was considered a close family friend of the Castellanos. Bilotti was a brutish loan shark, contrasting with Castellano's businessman-like personality. Bilotti was heavily involved in the Steam Fitters Local 638 of the Plumbers Union, and he was given a crew to manage in 1976 after Castellano became a boss. On 2 December 1985, he replaced Aniello Dellacroce as underboss of the Gambino family, and John Gotti and several rebellious capos planned to murder Castellano and his right-hand man, Bilotti.

Death
On 16 December 1985, Bilotti chauffeured Castellano to the Sparks Steak House in Midtown Manhattan, where he was supposed to meet with Frank DeCicco about a dispute over garbage routes. However, as Castellano exited the car, he was gunned down by three hitmen. Bilotti attempted to exit from the driver's side, but Tony Rampino shot him six times in the head and chest, killing the unarmed Bilotti. DeCicco replaced the deceased Bilotti as underboss.